In the July Issue

• Age Friendly Edmonton Celebration
• AFE Leadership Table Recruitment
• Little Known Senior Services
• Summer Safety Tips for Seniors
• July Events

On June 22, 2018, Age Friendly Edmonton hosted a celebration event at City Hall. We took a look back at what we’ve accomplished over the past few years and introduced our renewed focus for the future. We were joined by Councillor Andrew Knack and Councillor Moe Banga from City Council. Speakers from the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council and the Geriactors shared their age friendly stories. We also enjoyed entertainment from classical guitarist Ernst Birss and the talented women from the Sage Line Dancers. It was a lovely afternoon with good food and even better company. 

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 5 years since since over 50 dedicated partners came together to launch the Age Friendly Edmonton initiative. Co-lead by the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council and the City of Edmonton, our work aims to address the key factors that contribute to healthy, active, creative aging in this city. This has been an incredible undertaking, and the progress we’ve made is something worth celebrating! 

1. Our first focus area is Diversity. We’ll look at ways to engage and serve seniors representing diverse culture and language backgrounds, family dynamics, life experiences, gender, sexualities, abilities, and socio-economic situations.
2. We’ll focus on Intergenerational relationships - fostering opportunities for citizens of all ages to connect, interact, and learn from one another. 
3. Aging in Place will also be a priority - enabling seniors to live in the home and community of their choice as independently and safely as possible. 
4. Finally, we’ll work to address age-based prejudice or Ageism in our city, with the goal of reducing isolation, social exclusion, and elder abuse. 

• Advising on strategic planning processes in four priority areas: Ageism, Aging in Place, Intergenerational Connection, and Diversity
• Responding to emerging trends and opportunities in the seniors sector 
• Engaging with evaluation tools and monitoring program outcomes 
• Raising the profile of AFE as a ‘face’ of the initiative 
• Leading, influencing, connecting, and mobilizing

• Drink water and/or electrolyte-replacement sports drinks (especially for seniors who tend to sweat more)
• Eat foods like fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts
• Eat smaller portions; eating large meals produces more body heat
• Minimize consumption of dehydrating substances such as caffeine and alcohol
• Wear light-coloured loose clothing made of natural fabrics like cotton – breathable materials help keep the body cool and lighter colours absorb less heat
• Get out of the house with a trip to an air-conditioned location like the movie theatre or shopping mall

• Keep a water bottle on hand to maintain water intake any time you leave the house
• Plan frequent breaks to sit out of the sun and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
• Exercise during the early morning or evening
• Protect from the sun with a hat, sunglasses, breathable clothing that covers the body
• Frequent application of a good sunscreen
• Get a good insect repellent; mosquitoes can transmit diseases, so preventing those bug bites helps keep our immune-vulnerable seniors healthy
• Check the forecast before leaving the house
• Avoiding The Hottest Part of the Day: Activities outdoors should be planned for in the morning and the evening hours of the day to avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day. 

• Be aware of the signs of heat-induced illnesses like heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Some signs to watch for include headache, feeling faint, lack of sweating, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and body temperatures exceeding 104 degrees.
• Prepare a list of emergency phone numbers and place them in an easy-to-access area. This way, the right people can be called to help quickly preventing any further issues or preventing medical problems from getting worse.
• Meet Your Neighbor - Get in touch with those who live in your neighborhood and learn a bit about them and their schedules. If you're a senior, see if a younger neighbor — perhaps even one of their kids — can come by and check on you occasionally to make sure everything is alright. The extra company and friendship that can result is a bonus!

Mill Woods Seniors Association